Half and half divinities

[Guest guest]

Hinduism has several deities who are divided

vertically down the middle, and their left sides

represent a different divinity than their right sides.

 

Best known is probably Ardhanarishvara, the Lord Who's

Half His lady, who is usually Shiva on the right side,

and Parvati on the left side.

 

There's also Hari-Hara, again Shiva on the right side,

and Vishnu on the left side, showing that the

Destroyer and the Preserver are both manifestations of

Brahman.

 

I've also read of a deity found in South India, who is

Ganesha on the right side, and Hanuman on the left

side. Can anyone find a picture of this one?

 

While sorting through some old papers today, I found a

sketch a friend of mine did for me (unfortunately, I

don't have a scanner, so I can't show it to you). I

described it as Hari-Hara Shakti... Ma Lakshmi on the

right, and Ma Kali on the left, showing the interplay

of Gain and Loss. I really like this image, and I'm

surprised it hasn't occurred somewhere in Hindu

iconography.

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma